CRACKS IN THE SYSTEM

Bridge collapses, fatal potholes and urban floods cast a shadow over the BJP's much-touted Gujarat model, and fuel anger among the urban middle class, the party's core voter base

- By JUMANA SHAH

GAMBHIRA BRIDGE, Vadodara, July 9 The 40-year-old bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand districts collapsed when a 10-15-metre slab gave way, causing several vehicles to plunge into the Mahisagar river. The bridge was known to be in poor condition despite "some repairs"; prior warnings had been ignored

THE REASONS A preliminary investigation by the roads and buildings department pointed to structural failure due to 'pedestal and articulation crushing'.

Heavy rains may have contributed

20 DEATHS

9 INJURED

On July 9, the image of a tanker hanging precariously on the edge of the broken Gambhira bridge at Padra in Gujarat's Vadodara district made for a haunting visual of trust betrayed, promises undone. A 10-15-metre concrete slab between two of the bridge's 23 piers collapsed suddenly, forcing several vehicles to plunge into the Mahisagar river, claiming 20 lives in a few minutes.

This was no isolated incident. Over the past three years, a spate of collapses involving the state's urban infrastructure has cast serious doubt on the BJP's much-vaunted 'Gujarat model'—a narrative built largely on the optics of wide roads, expansive flyovers and marquee projects like the Sabarmati Riverfront. At least six bridges and flyovers—some still under construction—have crumbled during this period, resulting in the deaths of over 160 people. In August 2024, most parts of Vadodara city were inundated for three days as the Vishwamitri river swelled; in June 2025, Surat encountered a similar fate. Not to mention the potholed roads that cause accidents almost every day, triggering public outrage.